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DR ANTHONY MELVIN CRASTO, Born in Mumbai in 1964 and graduated from Mumbai University, Completed his Ph.D from ICT, 1991,Matunga, Mumbai, India, in Organic Chemistry, The thesis topic was Synthesis of Novel Pyrethroid Analogues, Currently he is working with GLENMARK PHARMACEUTICALS LTD, Research Centre as Principal Scientist, Process Research (bulk actives) at Mahape, Navi Mumbai, India. Total Industry exp 30 plus yrs, Prior to joining Glenmark, he has worked with major multinationals like Hoechst Marion Roussel, now Sanofi, Searle India Ltd, now RPG lifesciences, etc. He has worked with notable scientists like Dr K Nagarajan, Dr Ralph Stapel, Prof S Seshadri, Dr T.V. Radhakrishnan and Dr B. K. Kulkarni, etc, He did custom synthesis for major multinationals in his career like BASF, Novartis, Sanofi, etc., He has worked in Discovery, Natural products, Bulk drugs, Generics, Intermediates, Fine chemicals, Neutraceuticals, GMP, Scaleups, etc, he is now helping millions, has 9 million plus hits on Google on all Organic chemistry websites. His friends call him Open superstar worlddrugtracker. His New Drug Approvals, Green Chemistry International, All about drugs, Eurekamoments, Organic spectroscopy international,
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Because of its effectiveness on a large number of pests, fipronil is used as the active ingredient in flea control products for pets and home roach traps as well as field pest control for corn, golf courses, and commercial turf. Its widespread use makes its specific effects the subject of considerable attention. This includes ongoing observations on possible off-target harm to humans or ecosystems as well as the monitoring of resistance development.[2]

In Australia, it is marketed under numerous trade names, including Combat Ant-Rid, Radiate and Termidor, and as generic fipronil

In the UK, provisional approval for five years has been granted for fipronil use as a public hygiene insecticide.[3]

Fipronil is the main active ingredient of Frontline TopSpot, Fiproguard, Flevox, and PetArmor (used along with S-methoprene in the ‘Plus’ versions of these products); these treatments are used in fighting tick and flea infestations in dogs and cats.

In New Zealand, fipronil was used in trials to control wasps (Vespula spp.), which are a threat to indigenous biodiversity.[5] It is now being used by the Department of Conservation to attempt local eradication of wasps,[6].[7][8]

Effects

Toxicity

Fipronil is classed as a WHO Class II moderately hazardous pesticide, and has a rat acute oral LD50 of 97 mg/kg.

It has moderate acute toxicity by the oral and inhalation routes in rats. Dermal absorption in rats is less than 1% after 24 h and toxicity is considered to be low. It has been found to be very toxic to rabbits.

Symptoms of acute toxicity via ingestion includes sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, agitation, weakness, and tonic-clonic seizures. Clinical signs of exposure to fipronil are generally reversible and resolve spontaneously. As of 2011, no data were available regarding the chronic effects of fipronil on humans. The U.S. EPA has classified fipronil as a group C (possible human) carcinogen based on an increase in thyroid follicular cell tumors in both sexes of the rat. However, as of 2011, no human data is available regarding the carcinogenic effects of fipronil.[10]

Two Frontline TopSpot products were determined by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to pose no significant exposure risks to workers applying the product. However, concerns were raised about human exposure to Frontline spray treatment in 1996, leading to a denial of registration for the spray product. Commercial pet groomers and veterinarians were considered to be at risk from chronic exposure via inhalation and dermal absorption during the application of the spray, assuming they may have to treat up to 20 large dogs per day.[3] Fipronil is not volatile, so the likelihood of humans being exposed to this compound in the air is low.[10]

Detection in body fluids

Fipronil may be quantitated in plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to confirm a diagnosis of poisoning in hospitalised patients or to provide evidence in a medicolegal death investigation.[12]

Its half-life in soil is four months to one year, but much less on soil surface because it is more sensitive to light (photolysis) than water (hydrolysis).[14]

Few studies of effects on wildlife have been conducted, but studies of the nontarget impact from emergency applications of fipronil as barrier sprays for locust control in Madagascar showed adverse impacts of fipronil on termites, which appear to be very severe and long-lived. Also, adverse effects were indicated in the short term on several other invertebrate groups, one species of lizard (Trachylepis elegans), and several species of birds (including the Madagascar bee-eater).

Nontarget effects on some insects (predatory and detritivorous beetles, some parasitic wasps and bees) were also found in field trials of fipronil for desert locust control in Mauritania, and very low doses (0.6-2.0 g a.i./ha) used against grasshoppers in Niger caused impacts on nontarget insects comparable to those found with other insecticides used in grasshopper control. The implications of this for other wildlife and ecology of the habitat remain unknown, but appear unlikely to be severe.[3] Unfortunately, this lack of severity was not observed in bee species in South America. Fipronil is also used in Brazil and studies on the stingless bee Scaptotrigona postica have shown adverse reactions to the pesticide, including seizures, paralysis, and death with a lethal dose of .54 ng a.i./bee and a lethal concentration of .24 ng a.i./μl diet. These values are highly toxic in Scaptotrigona postica and bees in general.[15] Toxic baiting with fipronil has been shown to be effective in locally eliminating German wasps. All colonies within foraging range were completely eliminated within one week.[16][17][5]

In May 2003, the French Directorate-General of Food at the Ministry of Agriculture determined that a case of mass bee mortality observed in southern France was related to acute fipronil toxicity. Toxicity was linked to defective seed treatment, which generated dust. In February 2003, the ministry decided to temporarily suspend the sale of BASF crop protection products containing fipronil in France.[18] The seed treatment involved has since been banned.[citation needed] Fipronil was used in a broad spraying to control locusts in Madagascar in a program that began in 1997.[19]

Notable results from wildlife studies include:

Fipronil is highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Its tendency to bind to sediments and its low water solubility may reduce the potential hazard to aquatic wildlife.[20]

Fipronil is toxic to bees and should not be applied to vegetation when bees are foraging.[20]

Based on ecological effects, fipronil is highly toxic to upland game birds on an acute oral basis and very highly toxic on a subacute dietary basis, but is practically nontoxic to waterfowl on both acute and subacute bases.[21]

Chronic (avian reproduction) studies show no effects at the highest levels tested in mallards (NOEC) = 1000 ppm) or quail (NOEC = 10 ppm). The metabolite MB 46136 is more toxic to the parent than avian species tested (very highly toxic to upland game birds and moderately toxic to waterfowl on an acute oral basis).[21]

An early-lifestage toxicity study in rainbow trout found that fipronil affects larval growth with a NOEC of 0.0066 ppm and an LOEC of 0.015 ppm. The metabolite MB 46136 is more toxic than the parent to freshwater fish (6.3 times more toxic to rainbow trout and 3.3 times more toxic to bluegill sunfish). Based on an acute daphnia study using fipronil and three supplemental studies using its metabolites, fipronil is characterized as highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates.[21]

A lifecycle study in mysids shows fipronil affects reproduction, survival, and growth of mysids at concentrations less than 5 ppt.[21]

Acute studies of estuarine animals using oysters, mysids, and sheepshead minnows show that fipronil is highly acutely toxic to oysters and sheepshead minnows, and very highly toxic to mysids. Metabolites MB 46136 and MB 45950 are more toxic than the parent to freshwater invertebrates (MB 46136 is 6.6 times more toxic and MB 45950 is 1.9 times more toxic to freshwater invertebrates).[21]

Colony collapse disorder

Fipronil is one of the main chemical causes blamed for the spread of colony collapse disorder among bees. It has been found by the Minutes-Association for Technical Coordination Fund in France that even at very low nonlethal doses for bees, the pesticide still impairs their ability to locate their hive, resulting in large numbers of forager bees lost with every pollen-finding expedition.[22] A synergistic toxic effect of fipronil with the fungal pathogen Nosema ceranae was recently reported[23]. The functional basis for this toxic effect is now understood: the synergy between fipronil and the pathogenic fungus induces changes in male physiology leading to infertility[24] A 2013 report by the European Food Safety Authorityidentified fipronil as “a high acute risk to honeybees when used as a seed treatment for maize and on July 16, 2013 the EU voted to ban the use of fipronil on corn and sunflowers within the EU. The ban took effect at the end of 2013.”[25][26]

Pharmacodynamics

Fipronil acts by binding to allosteric sites of GABAA receptors and GluCl receptors (of insects) as an antagonist (a form of noncompetitive inhibition). This prevents the opening of chloride ion channels normally encouraged by GABA, reducing the chloride ions’ ability to lower a neuron’s membrane potential. This results in an overabundance of neurons reaching action potential and likewise CNS toxicity via overstimulation.[27][28][29][30]

In animals and humans, fipronil poisoning is characterized by vomiting, agitation, and seizures, and can usually be managed through supportive care and early treatment of seizures, generally with benzodiazepine use.[31][32]

History

Fipronil was discovered and developed by Rhône-Poulenc between 1985 and 1987, and placed on the market in 1993 under the B2 U.S. Patent 5,232,940 B2. Between 1987 and 1996, fipronil was evaluated on more than 250 insect pests on 60 crops worldwide, and crop protection accounted for about 39% of total fipronil production in 1997. Since 2003, BASF holds the patent rights for producing and selling fipronil-based products in many countries.

2017 Fipronil eggs contamination

The 2017 Fipronil eggs contamination is an incident in Europe and South Korea involving the spread of insecticide contaminated eggs and egg products. Chicken eggs were found to contain Fipronil and distributed to 15 European Union countries, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.[33][34] Approximately 700,000 eggs are thought to have reached shelves in the UK alone.[35] Eggs at 44 farms in Taiwan were also found with excessive Fipronil levels.[36]

5-Amino-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethyl
sulfinyl pyrazole or 5-Amino-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trif]uoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[-(1 (R,S)-trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile also known as Fipronil is a novel pesticide characterized by high efficiency, low toxicity and especially low residue.
There are various routes to synthesize Fipronil by oxidation of thiopyrazole with various other oxidizing agents in suitable solvents. Oxidation of sulfides is a very useful route for the preparation of sulfoxides. Literature is replete with the conversion of sulfides to sulfoxides and/or sulfones. However, most of the existing methods use expensive, toxic or rare oxidizing reagents, which are difficult to prepare, are very expensive and cannot be used on commercial scale. Many of these processes suffer from poor selectivity.
WO01/30760 describes oxidation of 5-amino-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylthio-pyrazole with trifluoro-acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of boric acid. The quantity

of trifluoroacetic acid used is 14.5 molar equivalents. The patent also
discloses the preparation of 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl
phenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylthio-pyrazole from 5-amino-1-(2,6-
dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl phenyl)-3-cyano pyrazole-4-yl disulphide.
European Patent publication No.295117 describes the preparation of 5-amino-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylsulphinyl pyrazole starting from 2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline to give an intermediate 5-amino-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylthiopyrazole which is oxidized with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid in chloroform to give desired product.
Oxidizing agents such as perbenzoic acids do not provide effective and regioselective oxidation of electron deficient sulfides such as trifluoromethylsulphides which are less readily oxidized than other sulfides. Trifluoroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid are found to be very efficient and regioselective oxidation medium for oxidation of 5-amino-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylthio-pyrazole in presence of hydrogen peroxide. Trichloroacetic acid can not be used alone due to higher melting point. Trifluoroacetic acid on the other hand is very regioselective with respect to conversion and low by-products formation. However, it is expensive, water miscible, corrosive to metal as well as glass, comparatively lower boiling and it’s recovery (in anhydrous form) is complex in nature.
W000/35851/2000 talks about synthesis of 2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline starting from 3,4,5-trichloro-benzotrifluoride in the presence of alkaline fluorides like lithium fluoride and ammonia in the

presence of N-methylpyrrolidone at 250°C to give 97% conversion and 87% selectivity. The main drawback of the above process is the synthesis of 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoride in high yield and purity. Chlorination of p-chlorobenzotrifluoride gives a mixture of 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoride in 72% GLC conversions, 3,4-dichloro and tetrachlorobenzotrifluoride. The process to get pure 3,4,5-isomer from this mixture by fractionation followed by crystallization is very tedious. Moreover in-spite of using very pure intermediates, substantial amount of an undesired isomer (3-amino-4,5-dichlorobenzotrifluoride) is also obtained.
Another approach to generate 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoride with high yield and purity is to perform denitrochlorination of 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride in the presence of a catalyst as described in GB Patent 2154581A. Even though the process produces 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoide in high yield and purity, the reaction conditions are too drastic to be employed for an industrial process.
The known commercial processes for the manufacture of Fipronil uses corrosive and expensive chemical such as trifluoroaceticacid, hydrogen peroxide and m-chloroperbenzoicacid Trifluoroacetic acid is expensive and generally not used in large quantities, as well as of m-chloroperbenzoic acid is difficult to handle at commercial scale due to its un-stability and detonating effect. Also the raw material used such as 2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline are not easily available or made. The overall process for the Fipronil as disclosed above is found to be unsatisfactory in one respect or the other.

Thus, there is felt a need for preparing Fipronil from easily available raw materials in a simple and economical manner at an industrial level, with high yields and purity.

5-Amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethyl sulfinyl pyrazole or 5-Amino-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[-(1(R,S)-trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile also known as Fipronil is a novel pesticide characterized by high efficiency, low toxicity and especially low residue.

[0005]

There are various routes to synthesize Fipronil by oxidation of thiopyrazole with various other oxidizing agents in suitable solvents. Oxidation of sulfides is a very useful route for the preparation of sulfoxides. Literature is replete with the conversion of sulfides to sulfoxides and/or sulfones. However, most of the existing methods use expensive, toxic or rare oxidizing reagents, which are difficult to prepare, are very expensive and cannot be used on commercial scale. Many of these processes suffer from poor selectivity.

[0006]

WO01/30760 describes oxidation of 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylthio-pyrazole with trifluoro-acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of boric acid. The quantity of trifluoroacetic acid used is 14.5 molar equivalents. The patent also discloses the preparation of 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl phenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylthio-pyrazole from 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl phenyl)-3-cyano pyrazole-4-yl disulphide.

[0007]

European Patent publication No. 295117 describes the preparation of 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylsulphinyl pyrazole starting from 2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline to give an intermediate 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylthiopyrazole which is oxidized with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid in chloroform to give desired product.

[0008]

Oxidizing agents such as perbenzoic acids do not provide effective and regioselective oxidation of electron deficient sulfides such as trifluoromethylsulphides which are less readily oxidized than other sulfides. Trifluoroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid are found to be very efficient and regioselective oxidation medium for oxidation of 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethylthio-pyrazole in presence of hydrogen peroxide. Trichloroacetic acid can not be used alone due to higher melting point. Trifluoroacetic acid on the other hand is very regioselective with respect to conversion and low by-products formation. However, it is expensive, water miscible, corrosive to metal as well as glass, comparatively lower boiling and it’s recovery (in anhydrous form) is complex in nature.

[0009]

WO00/35851/2000 talks about synthesis of 2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline starting from 3,4,5-trichloro-benzotrifluoride in the presence of alkaline fluorides like lithium fluoride and ammonia in the presence of N-methylpyrrolidone at 250° C. to give 97% conversion and 87% selectivity. The main drawback of the above process is the synthesis of 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoride in high yield and purity. Chlorination of p-chlorobenzotrifluoride gives a mixture of 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoride in 72% GLC conversions, 3,4-dichloro and tetrachlorobenzotrifluoride. The process to get pure 3,4,5-isomer from this mixture by fractionation followed by crystallization is very tedious. Moreover in-spite of using very pure intermediates, substantial amount of an undesired isomer (3-amino-4,5-dichlorobenzotrifluoride) is also obtained.

[0010]

Another approach to generate 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoride with high yield and purity is to perform denitrochlorination of 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride in the presence of a catalyst as described in GB Patent 2154581A. Even though the process produces 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoide in high yield and purity, the reaction conditions are too drastic to be employed for an industrial process.

[0011]

The known commercial processes for the manufacture of Fipronil uses corrosive and expensive chemical such as trifluoroaceticacid, hydrogen peroxide and m-chloroperbenzoicacid Trifluoroacetic acid is expensive and generally not used in large quantities, as well as of m-chloroperbenzoic acid is difficult to handle at commercial scale due to its un-stability and detonating effect. Also the raw material used such as 2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline are not easily available or made. The overall process for the Fipronil as disclosed above is found to be unsatisfactory in one respect or the other.

[0012]

Thus, there is felt a need for preparing Fipronil from easily available raw materials in a simple and economical manner at an industrial level, with high yields and purity.

Example 18

[0081]

A mixture of 700 g of dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid was taken along with 300 g of chlorobenzene, 2 g of boric acid and 280 g of 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethyl thiopyrazole, the content were cooled to 15-20° C. Aqueous H202 (44.2 g, 50%) was added and mass was stirred for 20 hrs. The mass was then processed and Fipronil was isolated by filtration. After work up as above, 269 g of Fipronil of purity 94% was obtained. The filtered Fipronil was then purified using chlorobenzene (5 ml/g) followed by mixture (1 ml/g, 80:20 v/v) of ethylacetate and chlorobenzene to get 232 g of Fipronil of greater than 97% purity.

Example 19 Purification of Fipronil

[0082]

The fipronil prepared in example 18 of purity 97% was treated with a mixture (232 ml) of ethylacetate & chlorobenzene (80:20 v/v). This reaction mixture was heated to 85-90° C. & maintained for 1 hr. It was further cooled up to 30° C. in stages & filtered. Fipronil thus obtained had a purity of 98%. This cycle was repeated to obtain fipronil of above 98% purity.

[0083]

The useful constituents from various streams of crystallization, leaching as above were reused and recycled, fipronil was isolated in 80-85% yield with purity of above 98%.

“ DRUG APPROVALS INTERNATIONAL” CATERS TO EDUCATION GLOBALLY, No commercial exploits are done or advertisements added by me. This is a compilation for educational purposes only. P.S. : The views expressed are my personal and in no-way suggest the views of the professional body or the company that I represent

Atipamezole is a synthetic alpha2-adrenergic antagonist, indicated for the reversal of the sedative and analgesic effects of dexmedetomidine and medetomidine in dogs. It has also been researched in humans as a potential anti-Parkinsonian drug.Atipamezole is more potent than yohimbine; it is very selective for alpha2-adrenergic vs alpha1sites, but not selelctive for alpha2 – subtypes.

Atipamezole is a selective alpha2 – adrenoceptor antagonist which is currently marketed under the trademark Antisedan® for the reversal of sedative- analgesic veterinary drugs. Atipamezole has been disclosed e.g. in the European Patent EP 183492 as useful for the reversal of detomidine. European Patent EP 0589957 discloses the use of atipamezole for the treatment of male sexual impotence. In US 4698692 the use of atipamezole for the attenuation of ethyl alcohol intoxication is disclosed.

US Patent No. US6543389 discloses insecticidal pet collars for dogs comprising amitraz and atipamezole. Atipamezole in the collar provides amelioration of amitraz toxicosis in combination with the amitraz in case the dogs ingests the collar. The pet collar comprises 0.01 to 1%, preferably 0.1 to 1 %, by weight of atipamezole. Safe, effective ways to eliminate ectoparasites are desired for the companion animal’s well-being, for the well-being and comfort of its human associate and for the prevention of losses in livestock

A substantial amount of work has been devoted to identifying the neurotransmitters involved in the facilitation and inhibition of male sexual behaviour (see e.g. Bitran and Hull 1987, Neuroscience and Behavioral reviews 11 , 365-389). Noradrenergic neuro-transmission seems to have an important role.

Atipamezole is a selective and potent a2*-adrenoceptor antagonist which is currently marketed for the reversal of sedative-analgesic veterinary drugs. Atipamezole has been disclosed e.g. in the European Patent EP 183492 as useful for the reversal of detomidine.

We have now found that this compound is also very effective in increasing male sexual capacity in a monkey model. These findings suggest that atipamezole would be an effective therapy in male impotence in humans as well.

Another a2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, yohimbine, is currently used for the treatment of male impotence. Yohimbine increases noradrenergic neurotransmission and has been reported to facilitate the sexual capacity of male animals, although the results of different studies are conflicting.

Atipamezole is, however clearly advantageous over yohimbine for this use because of its excellent selectivity. The a2/a-|selectivity ratio of atipamezole is

First synthetic route as starting material was used 2-acetyl-1-indanone, which was alkylated with ethylbromide in acetone in the presence of sodium carbonate to 2-acetyl-2-ethyl-1-indanone. The acetyl group was brominated with bromine in methanol and to imidazole by heating in formamide. Then the intermediate was hydrogenated in 2N hydrochloric acid in the presence of 10% palladium on carbon.

Second synthetic route disclosed in the same patent is following, as starting material was used 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester, which was prepared by methylation of 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid in the presence of sulphuric acid. The 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester was reacted with N-isopropylcyclohexylamide and ethylbromide yielding 2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid, then thionyl chloride was added and 2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid chloride was obtained. In the next step ethoxymagnesiummalonic acid ethyl ester in dry ether was added to 2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid chloride and reaction mixture was treated with sulphuric acid, and 1-(2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1H-inden-2-yl)ethanone was obtained, then the intermediate was stirred in methylene chloride and bromine was added by giving a new intermediate 2-bromo-1-(2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-1H-inden-2-yl)ethanone, to which was thereafter added formamide and hydrochloric acid yielding crude product of 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole. The last step involved hydrogenation of the crude product of 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1 H-imidazole with 10% palladium on carbon.

EP 0247764 B (ORION-YHTYMÄ OY) 1987.02.12. disclosed the following process for preparation of 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole hydrochloride. The process starts by reaction of alpha, alpha-dibromo-o-xylene with 4-penten-2-one to obtain 1-(2,3-dihydro-2-vinyl-1H-inden-2-yl)ethanone. The obtained intermediate was brominated, e.g. with bromine, methylene chloride was used as solvent and 2-bromo-1-(2,3-dihydro-2-vinyl-1H-inden-2-yl)-ethanone was obtained, which is thereafter reacted with formamide in excess formamide to give a 4(5)-(2,3-dihydro-2-vinyl-1H-inden-2-ylimidazole hydrochloride. As the last step the vinyl group was catalytically hydrogenated to an ethyl group so as to form a product 4(5)-(2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1 H-inden-2-yl) imidazole.

Another synthetic route for obtaining 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole is disclosed in WAI, Wonf, et al. A Concise Synthesis of Atipamezole. Synthesis. 1995, no.2, p.139-140. The cyclization of alpha, alpha’-dibromo-o-xylene with acetylacetone by means of NaOH and tetrabutylammonium bromide in toluene/water at 80°C under phase-transfer conditions gives the unstable diacetyl derivative, which presumably undergoes cleavage to afford 2-acetylindane. The alkylation of 2-acetylindane with ethyl iodide and potassium tert-butoxide yields 2-acetyl-2-ethylindan, which is brominated with Br2 to give 2-bromoacetyl-2-ethylindan. Finally, this compound is cyclised with formamide at 160°C (some 2-ethyl-2-(4-oxazolyl)indane is also formed but easily eliminated); the cyclization can also be carried out with formamidine in liquid ammonia. Although the substitution of formamide by formamidine acetate eliminates the oxazole formation, it does not increase the yield of Atipamezole (<30%) WAI, Wonf, et al. A Concise Synthesis of Atipamezole. Synthesis. 1995, no.2, p.139-140 in the final step.

The preparation of atipamezole hydrochloride salt is described in U.S. Patent 4,689,339, wherein atipamezole obtained from the hydrogenation step is first recovered from alkaline solution as free base. After the evaporation of methylene chloride solvent to dryness the isolated crystalline product is converted into its hydrochloride salt by treatment with dry hydrogen chloride in ethyl acetate

1. an essential process for obtaining 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole, without bromination in any step of process, thus preventing the possibility of brominated by-products;

2. This process has given superior yields, compared to patents cited above;

3. This process is amenable to large scale production which does not require specialized equipment.

The condensing of commercially available 1-trityl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxaldehyde (I) with phtalide to form 2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazole-4-yl)indan-1,3-dione (II) is performed under the conditions that are similar to those used for synthesis of 4-(indane-1,3-dionyl) pyridine J. Org. Chem. 1971, vol.36, p.1563. surprisingly, the bulky 1-trityl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxaldehyde (I) reacted as expected and produced 2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazole-4-yl)indan-1,3-dione (II) in over 67% yield. Both ethyl acetate and dioxane can be used as reaction media.

The alkylation of (II) by ethyl iodide is performed in boiling acetone with potassium carbonate as basic agent. 2-Ethyl-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazole-4-yl)indan-1,3-dione (III) is formed in over 67% yield and easily isolated from the acetone solution by concentrating it and diluting with water. A high purity (III) is obtained after crystallization from methanol or ethanol.

Removing the trityl group of 2-ethyl-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazole-4-yl)indan-1,3-dione by acid hydrolysis to yield the deprotected 2-ethyl-2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)indan-1,3-dione.

The reduction of (IV) to 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole hydrochloride (V) is performed in hydrogenation apparatus with Pd/C catalyst under hydrogen pressure in HCI solution. The reaction proceeds under variable pressure and temperature conditions, but a pressure of about 3 bar and the temperature of about 80-85°C is preferable. After removing the catalyst the product crystallizes on chilling in over 77% yield. It can be purified by additional crystallization.

First synthetic route as starting material was used 2-acetyl-1-indanone, which was alkylated with ethylbromide in acetone in the presence of sodium carbonate to 2-acetyl-2-ethyl-1-indanone. The acetyl group was brominated with bromine in methanol and to imidazole by heating in formamide. Then the intermediate was hydrogenated in 2N hydrochloric acid in the presence of 10% palladium on carbon.

Second synthetic route disclosed in the same patent is following, as starting material was used 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester, which was prepared by methylation of 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid in the presence of sulphuric acid. The 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester was reacted with N-isopropylcyclohexylamide and ethylbromide yielding 2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid, then thionyl chloride was added and 2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid chloride was obtained. In the next step ethoxymagnesiummalonic acid ethyl ester in dry ether was added to 2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid chloride and reaction mixture was treated with sulphuric acid, and 1-(2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1H-inden-2-yl)ethanone was obtained, then the intermediate was stirred in methylene chloride and bromine was added by giving a new intermediate 2-bromo-1-(2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-1H-inden-2-yl)ethanone, to which was thereafter added formamide and hydrochloric acid yielding crude product of 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole. The last step involved hydrogenation of the crude product of 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1 H-imidazole with 10% palladium on carbon.

EP 0247764 B (ORION-YHTYMÄ OY) 1987.02.12. disclosed the following process for preparation of 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole hydrochloride. The process starts by reaction of alpha, alpha-dibromo-o-xylene with 4-penten-2-one to obtain 1-(2,3-dihydro-2-vinyl-1H-inden-2-yl)ethanone. The obtained intermediate was brominated, e.g. with bromine, methylene chloride was used as solvent and 2-bromo-1-(2,3-dihydro-2-vinyl-1H-inden-2-yl)-ethanone was obtained, which is thereafter reacted with formamide in excess formamide to give a 4(5)-(2,3-dihydro-2-vinyl-1H-inden-2-ylimidazole hydrochloride. As the last step the vinyl group was catalytically hydrogenated to an ethyl group so as to form a product 4(5)-(2,3-dihydro-2-ethyl-1 H-inden-2-yl) imidazole.

Another synthetic route for obtaining 5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole is disclosed in WAI, Wonf, et al. A Concise Synthesis of Atipamezole. Synthesis. 1995, no.2, p.139-140. The cyclization of alpha, alpha’-dibromo-o-xylene with acetylacetone by means of NaOH and tetrabutylammonium bromide in toluene/water at 80°C under phase-transfer conditions gives the unstable diacetyl derivative, which presumably undergoes cleavage to afford 2-acetylindane. The alkylation of 2-acetylindane with ethyl iodide and potassium tert-butoxide yields 2-acetyl-2-ethylindan, which is brominated with Br2 to give 2-bromoacetyl-2-ethylindan. Finally, this compound is cyclised with formamide at 160°C (some 2-ethyl-2-(4-oxazolyl)indane is also formed but easily eliminated); the cyclization can also be carried out with formamidine in liquid ammonia. Although the substitution of formamide by formamidine acetate eliminates the oxazole formation, it does not increase the yield of Atipamezole (<30%) WAI, Wonf, et al. A Concise Synthesis of Atipamezole. Synthesis. 1995, no.2, p.139-140 in the final step.

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US Patent 8,431,717

Atipamezole [5-(2-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1H-imidazole, 1] is a veterinary drug that has been investigated for treating Parkinson’s disease in humans. V. Lusis and co-inventors summarize several ways to synthesize 1. Some routes give a low yield of 1 and produce large quantities of an oxazole byproduct. Other processes involve a sluggish bromination reaction that leads to many byproducts.

The inventors’ process is intended to overcome these problems. In particular, it does not use the bromination reaction and thus avoids forming brominated byproducts. The process, outlined in the figure, begins with the reaction of imidazole 2 with i-PrMgCl to form iodo Grignard reagent 3, which is treated with DMF to give 4. This intermediate is not isolated but is treated with aq NH4Cl to give aldehyde 5, isolated in 73.2% yield. The aldehyde is condensed with phthalide (6) in the presence of NaOMe to produce imidazolylindane 7, recovered in crude form in 67.2% yield.

In the next stage, compound 7 is alkylated with EtI in the presence of K2CO3. Product 8 is isolated in 50.9% yield after being recrystallized from EtOH. Product1 can be produced directly from 8 by making its HCl salt and hydrogenating the salt over Pd/C. Crude atipamezole is isolated as its HCl salt in 26.6% yield.

Alternatively, acid hydrolysis of 8 removes the trityl group to form dione 9, recovered as a white crystalline solid in 76.2% yield. The HCl salt of 9 is then hydrogenated to 1·HCl.

The patent’s claims cover the process to make 1 and new compounds 7 and 8. The overall yield of compound 1 is poor, partly because of the low yield from the hydrogenation step. The inventors claim, however, that the yield is higher than from earlier methods. They point out that the process is amenable to large-scale production without the use of specialized equipment. (JSC Grindeks [Riga, Latvia]. US Patent 8,431,717, April 30, 2013; Keith Turner), View the full-text here.

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